A FRESH chapter in Cheshire's proud military history opened on Saturday, as the Prince of Wales helped launch the British Army's newest infantry regiment.

The Mercian Regiment was officially formed on September 1 in Tamworth with the amalgamation of three neighbouring county regiments, one being the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.

The new regiment automatically assumes the traditional recruiting area of 'the Cheshires', which covers most of the county south of the Rivers Mersey and Tame and includes Widnes and Runcorn among others.

Prince Charles is the new regiment's colonel in chief and he had also been colonel in chief of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment.

Saturday's event was watched by a crowd of thousands.

Soldiers representing each of the three amalgamating regiments - the 22nd (Cheshire), the Staffordshire and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiments - removed their old berets and cap badges and replaced them with the new beret and cap badge insignia of the Mercian Regiment - the Mercian Eagle.

Family, friends and supporters then clapped and cheered as the new regiment's troops marched through Tam-worth town centre.

Also involved in the march past were many old comrades, former soldiers of each of the antecedent regiments.

The Prince told the soldiers: 'Having had the privilege of being colonel in chief of the Cheshire Regiment for the past 30 years, I have no doubt that the Mercian Regiment will stand firm and strike hard just as its predecessors did in all four corners of the world.'

Formation of group

THE Mercian Regiment has four battalions. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions are Regular Army battalions, manned by full-time soldiers, while 4th Battalion is its Territorial Army battalion, manned by part-time soldiers.

The new 1 MERCIAN is formed from what was previously 1st Battalion The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment. This battalion deploys to serve in Iraq later this year.

A selected group of about 100 soldiers from the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment were given the honour of representing the regiment in the formation parade in Tamworth.